Democrats: Is Rick Santorum for real?  —  Last week, the Obama campaign made what seemed, on its surface, like a startling announcement: They were steering some of their opposition researchers, who had been mostly trained on Mitt Romney, to a rocketing Rick Santorum.

Females on Campaign Trail Go For Sexpot Look  —  Forget about SexyTwitPics.  Washington has its own crop of would-be sexy females on the loose.  And an unusual trend is developing among campaign and White House reporters of the XX persuasion.  They're using provocative …

Ron Paul Fans Outraged At Hearty Post-Debate Handshake  —  “Ron Paul has got arthritis.  That must have hurt him, f**k you Rick!”  —  Follow  —  More from Rosie Gray ›  —  Source: youtube.com  —  Rick Santorum topped off a disappointing debate performance with an oddly enthusiastic handshake with Ron Paul.

New York Times Columnist Mocks Romney's ‘Magic Underwear’  —  I hope you're proud.  —  Mr. Blow may attempt to delete that Tweet, but it can, for now, be found here.  Of course, this is the Internet.  Nothing ever goes away completely.  —  One of your columnists responds to a comment he does not like …

Obama: Use ‘algae’ as substitute for oil  —  President Obama admitted today that he does not have a “silver bullet” solution for skyrocketing gas prices, but he proposed alternative energy sources such as “a plant-like substance, algae” as a way of cutting dependence on oil by 17 percent.

John Edwards Sex Tape Suit Settled, Tapes to Be Destroyed  —  The long-running court battle over a sexually explicit videotape featuring former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards and his mistress, Rielle Hunter, has been settled out of court today and all copies of the tape will be destroyed, ABC News has learned.

Maryland Senate passes gay marriage bill  —  O'Malley will sign, but voters likely will have the last say  —  The Maryland Senate approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage Thursday night, sending the Civil Marriage Protection Act to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.

Chris Christie Smacks Down WaPo's Capehart: 'I'm Not Going to be Cross-Examined By You'  —  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart got into quite a heated debate about same sex marriage on MSNBC's Morning Joe Thursday.

Craig James: Being Gay A ‘Choice’  —  Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Craig James says he believes being gay is a choice and gays will have to answer to God.  —  James made those comments Wednesday during a Republican candidate debate in Dallas where Tom Leppert was also forced to defend his record as Dallas mayor.

‘Lunch-In’ Protests Crackdown on Homemade Lunches  —  The National Center for Public Policy Research hosted a “lunch-in” today at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. The target of the protest?  “[F]ederal school nutrition guidelines that allegedly forced at least one student to forgo …

Jason Alexander Responds To Mitt Romney's George Costanza Misquote  —  Ryan Alexander Jenkins [Second Update] Is a Person of Interest to the Police!  Megan Wants A Millionaire contestant Ryan Alexander Jenkins is being sought for questioning about the murder of Jasmine Fiore.

Female Witness Hits Back At Issa: 'I'm A Woman Who Uses Contraception, That Makes Me Qualified' To Testify  —  Democrats on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee held a special hearing Thursday morning in response to the GOP's decision to prevent women from testifying in support …

Romney Goes Occupy: The ‘1%’ Need to Pay ‘Fair Share’  —  Having recognized that he cannot outflank Rick Santorum from the right, Mitt Romney is now mimicking Newt Gingrich's anti-Romney strategy, moving to the left with populist economic rhetoric.  —  Here's what he said in Arizona yesterday:

Exclusive: Marco Rubio's Mormon Roots  —  As a child, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Ticket balancing is a great tradition, and this could affect Romney's Vice Presidential calculation.  —  Do Rubio's Mormon roots complicate the Republican's electable dream ticket?

Project Icarus: Laying the Plans for Interstellar Travel  —  Andreas Tziolas is drafting a blueprint for a mission to a nearby star.  Here, he discusses how we'll get there — and why we try.  —  We humans have known for a very long time that going to the stars will be difficult, if not impossible.

Bill Maher Presents Obama Super PAC With $1 Million Check  —  While performing his “StupidCrazyPolitics” show at the San Jose Center For The Performing Arts in San Jose, CA Thursday night, comedian and HBO host Bill Maher announced he would be donating $1 million to Priorities USA Action, a pro-Barack Obama Super PAC.

TPM2012  —  GOP Rep: I'd Have To Personally Kill Some Senators To Get The Ryan Budget Passed (AUDIO)  —  Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) sent TPM a public apology Thursday after we obtained audio of the five-term Republican telling constituents at a town hall this week that he'd have to personally shoot members …

Susan G. Komen Hires Consulting Firm To Assess Damage To Reputation … Komen Planned Parenthood , Politics News  —  After Susan G. Komen for the Cure's controversial decision several weeks ago to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, and the subsequent reversal of that decision …

Mitt Romney Super PAC Republishes 2007 Romney Ad, Violating Finance Laws, Watchdog Says … 2012 Election , 2012 Elections , Campaign Finance , Mitt Romney , Elections 2012 , Video , Restore Our Future , Super PACs , Election 2012 , Mitt Romney 2012 , Mitt Romney Restore Our Future , Romney , Romney 2012 , Super Pac , Politics News

Michelle Obama's pitch: Share the wealth  —  First lady Michelle Obama has joined her husband's bandwagon to hit the rich and spread the wealth, questioning how well-off families can feel good if others are struggling.  —  To about 300 supporters wealthy enough to pay $300-$10,000 to attend …

The compression of generations - 25 million adults live at home with parents because they're unemployed or underemployed.  The crushing cost of a college education today.  —  The thought of moving out on your own and making your individual way in the world is very much an American trait.

Beck backs driver's licenses for illegal immigrants  —  LAPD chief advocates a change in state law, saying that licenses would improve highway safety and allow police to identify people they encounter.  —  Wading into a divisive, politically charged debate, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck …

Guest Post by JW Mason: The Dynamics of Household Debt  —  [Mike here.  Friends of the blog Josh Mason, of the blog slackwire, and Arjun Jayadev, former Roosevelt Institute fellow and economist at Umass-Boston, have an interesting new paper out on the growth of household debt over the past 30 years.

Allen West fills Hummer, blames Obama  —  Rep. Allen West says he is not happy that he had to spend $70 this week to fill up the gas tank of his Hummer, and he's directing his anger at President Barack Obama.  —  “People have asked me before is there any area where I could praise President Obama?